As it launched a major fundraising campaign Barnardos Ireland admitted that it is facing a funding shortfall which could jeopardise some of its projects around the country, the charity has told the Irish Examiner.

The children’s charity said it expected a 20% shortfall in funding this year with another budget deficit next year.

The organisation deals with 5,500 children and runs 42 projects around the country, but faces a funding crisis which it attributed to the effects of the recession.

The charity has a funding shortfall of €1,180,000 for this year and is well short of the €5.9 million it needs to keep services going.

Barnardos last week launched a public appeal fronted by the charity’s chief executive using radio and newspaper inserts.

Director of marketing and fundraising Ruth Guy said if the budget deficit continued into next year it would then have to look at curtailing or cutting projects as “a worst case scenario”.

A 3% reduction in HSE funding has already been agreed, meaning a drop in the 67% of statutory funding already provided to Barnardos. A pay freeze is already in place for the charity’s 360 full-time staff. As for the possible closure of projects, she said: “It is going to be largely dependent on the funding that we are getting in.”

Last year Barnardos had an income of €24.386 million, compared to €21.589 million in 2007. Voluntary income in 2008 was €7.415 million with a figure of €6.447 million in 2007. Net assets, however, declined from €7.279 million in 2007 to €4.402 million in 2008 due a pension scheme liability.

About paulartherton

Paul Artherton has a BA (Hons) Degree from Queen’s University and a MA Degree in Journalism from Pennsylvania State University. He has worked in PR and fundraising for over 27 years. Previously assistant director for fundraising and public relations at the Simon Community Northern Ireland for seven years, for the last 17 years he has run his own fundraising consultancy business specialising in fundraising, sponsorship, public relations and recruitment. His clients have included charities, private sector and public bodies. Examples include the Ulster Cancer Foundation, Simon Communities of Ireland, NI Hospice, North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust, Aiken Promotions, the Industrial Development Board and the Ulster Museum. He has lectured on voluntary sector management at Queens University Belfast Institute for Continuing Education. Since 2010 Paul has been a lay member of the NI Charity Tribunal.

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